Researchers - skills development and promotions

The various academic support departments (Research Support, Department for Research Communication and Impact and the Department for EdTech) collaborate on the planning and provision of relevant courses for employees in research and teaching positions.  

Kristiania will develop dedicated course modules that will also act as meeting venues for researchers across our schools. We will combine this with information about available course places at other university and university college institutions and private providers as applicable. 

Planned modules

• Developing a project idea 
• Planning a research project 
• Research communication and impact  
• The social impact of your research project 
• Data collection and data protection 
• Research ethics 
• CRIStin registration and archiving of results 
• Project finances and budgeting 
• Application development 
• Scientific publication 
• Head of Faculty courses 

Kristiania University College processes applications for promotion once a year. The annual deadline for applications is 31 August. 

Exceptions from the annual application deadline are described in part 2 of the guidelines.  

A granted promotion is personal has no consequences for the position-holder’s duties. 

Contacts 

Writing an application

Research advisers can assist applicants with information about what should be included in an application for promotion. Research Adviser Thi Ha Ngo

Please contact us and ask for guidance when writing an application for your promotion. We can also meet you for a meeting to provide guidance. 

For e-mail inquiries, please copy in forskadm@kristiania.no. 

Submitting an application

Applications must be submitted digitally or as hard copies (five copies) to the Head of Faculty, who will quality-assure the documentation and forward it to the Administrative Manager at the school at which the applicant is employed. 

The Administrative Manager will submit the application to the Secretary for the Appointments Committee - au@kristiania.no   

Secretary of the Appointments Committee 

HR Adviser Linn-Marie Harlem is the Secretary of the Appointments Committee. 

Contact information - au@kristiania.no  

Purpose

The Board of Directors of Kristiania University College decided in board case no. 145 of 1 June 2018 that Kristiania University College shall have an appointments committee. The Appointments Committee will have some permanent members as well as some rotating members who will be involved in the processing of cases from their own academic community. 

• The work of the Appointments Committee in relation to teaching and research positions shall ensure a transparent and efficient hiring process, in which recommendations are rooted in the necessary qualification assessments in accordance with the requirements set out in laws and regulations. 
• The Appointments Committee shall handle all cases of appointment and promotion of employees in teaching and research positions. 
• The Appointments Committee's work is authorised by Section 6-3 of the Norwegian act relating to universities and university colleges. The committee's composition is decided by the Board of Directors, who have delegated responsibility for the establishment of the committee to the college's HR director in accordance with this act. 
• The Appointments Committee works on the basis of delegated authority from the board and reports to the board via the Rector or the authority to which the board has granted decision-making authority, depending on the cases being dealt with. 

Members

Permanent members of the Appointments Committee 

• The Pro-Rector for AD/R&D is the head of the committee (Personal deputy: Pro-Rector for education) 
• An academic employee with senior qualifications (appointed by the Rector for two years, together with the appointment of personal deputies) as a minimum 
• A student representative (appointed by the student union for a calendar year, together with the appointment of a personal deputy) 
• Head of the local trade union for UFF employees (or a local union leader appointed for two years, together with the designation of a personal deputy)  

Rotating members 

• Deans attend meetings at which matters relating to their own schools are considered. (Do not have deputies) 
• Two academic employees from each school (professor or associate professor) will attend meetings to consider cases from their own school. (Appointed by the Rector for two years, together with the appointment of a personal deputy) 

Secretariat 

• The Head of HR, or someone designated by the Head of HR. The person in question is entitled to speak and make proposals at the meeting.  

Secretary of the Appointments Committee 

• HR Adviser Linn-Marie Harlem, mobile: +47 995 52 431, e-mail: linn-marie.harlem@kristiania.no

Work tasks and form 

The committee shall make decisions in the following cases:  

• Approving advertisement texts for appointments to teaching and research positions. 
• Consider applications for promotion, including appointing an expert assessment committee for qualified applications. 
• Appointing an expert committee for appointments to teaching and research positions. 
• Recommending decisions for appointments and promotions in all teaching and research positions to the rectorate.  

The committee shall issue a statement in the following cases 

• Development and approval of the college’s plans for professional qualifications development, including plans for recruitment of professional expertise where the university college may be at risk of not meeting the requirements of the programme supervision regulations. 
• Questions about academic downsizing. 

The committee shall also 

• Be briefed about the college’s resource accounts, with an opportunity to issue a statement. 
• Participate in the appointment process for academic management positions through participation in the process by one of the permanent members (in addition to the leader). 

Working form 

• The Appointments Committee shall work in accordance with internal guidelines for work on councils and committees. 
• The committee holds meetings monthly, provided there are cases to be considered. The committee may schedule extraordinary meetings when necessary. 
• The committee decides on matters in the meeting and forms a quorum when at least the chairperson/deputy chairperson and two other members are present. 
• In cases where the Appointments Committee makes final decisions, the Kristiania University College Board will be the appeals body. 
• The secretariat distributes the agenda and supporting documents no later than one week before the meeting date and keeps minutes during the meeting. 

Case management of applications for promotion 

Appointment of an expert committee 

• Applicants for promotions on the basis of expertise must submit their applications to the Head of Faculty, who will forward the application to the Administrative Manager at the school. 
• The school or faculty will forward the application and recommendation for the appointment of academic specialists to the Secretary of the Appointments Committee. Recommendations for academic specialists can only be submitted together with applications after applications have been submitted. 
• The Appointments Committee will formally appoint the expert committee [1]. 
• HR follows up the appointment by entering into a contract with the experts and providing remuneration. 

Composition of expert committees 

Promotion to Professor – Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (8): 

• Three persons with professor’s qualifications or equivalent in the applicant's field. 
• Only one member of the committee may be from the same department as the applicant and that person may not chair the committee. 
• One member of the assessment committee can and should be from the applicant's own department. 
• Both genders should be represented. 
• As far as possible, the committee should have a member from another country. 

Promotion to Associate Professor – Promotions Regulations, Section 2-3 (7): 

• Three specialists in the applicant's field of study, of which one must have professor’s qualifications and the other two must possess senior lecturer’s qualifications or equivalent in the applicant's field. 
• Only one member of the committee may be from the same department as the applicant and that person may not chair the committee. 
• One member of the assessment committee can and should be from the applicant's own department. 
• Both genders should be represented. 
• Insofar as it is possible and natural, given the field, the committee should have one member from another country. 
• If necessary, specialist experts may be appointed for the evaluation of parts of the documentation submitted. 

Promotion to Assistant Professor – Promotions Regulations, Section 2-4 (4): 

• Three specialists in the applicant's field, of which one must have qualifications higher than assistant professor and the other two must have at least assistant professor’s qualifications. 
• At least one of the members of the committee must be employed in an academic community that has been given responsibility for doctoral education, but this may be waived for an application for promotion based on artistic qualifications. 
• Only one member of the committee may be from the same department as the applicant and that person may not chair the committee. 
• One member of the assessment committee can and should be from the applicant's own department. 
• Both genders should be represented. 
• If necessary, specialist experts may be appointed for the evaluation of parts of the documentation submitted. 

Promotion to Senior Lecturer – Promotions Regulations, Section 2-4 (4): 

• Three specialists in the applicant's field, of which one must have qualifications higher than associate professor and the other two must have at least associate professor’s qualifications. 
• Only one member of the committee may be from the same department as the applicant and that person may not chair the committee. 
• One member of the assessment committee can and should be from the applicant's own department. 
• Both genders should be represented. 
• If necessary, specialist experts may be appointed for the evaluation of parts of the documentation submitted. 

Promotion to University College Lecturer – Promotions Regulations, Section 2-5 (2), (4): 

• If the criteria in Sections 1-1 and 1-6 of the Promotions Regulations are satisfied, the application may be judged administratively without an expert committee. 
• In cases where an expert committee must be appointed, it shall consist of 2 experts in the applicant's field of study, none of whom may be connected to the department. 

The expert's impartiality 

The experts shall, as far as possible, have no close ties to any of the applicants, or have any benefit or disadvantage from evaluating them. The department that proposes experts, the Appointments Committee that makes the formal appointment and the experts themselves all have an obligation to disclose any circumstances that could damage confidence in the impartiality of the expert. 

However, having knowledge of the applicant does not equate to ineligibility. In cases where impartiality has initially been an issue, without this having disqualified the expert from the task, the questions that have been discussed and the conclusions that have been reached shall nevertheless be briefly described in the written appointment of the expert committee and in the expert committee's recommendations [2]. 

Expert committee’s working form 

• The expert committee is expected to work as a committee, but the Appointments Committee may allow the experts to give individual assessments if there are substantial reasons to do so. 
• The expert committee may request supplementary documentation if the application is deficient, but is not obliged to do so.  

The expert committee and the applicant must not have direct contact  

• The applicant must not make direct contact with the expert committee after the application has been submitted. 
• The expert committee also must not contact the applicant directly to obtain additional documentation or other information. 
• If necessary, the expert committee shall ask the secretary of the Appointments Committee to request additional documentation or other information from the applicant.  

Objection to an expert committee's recommendation  

As soon as the expert committee's recommendation is available, the applicant shall be sent a copy. The applicant has no right of appeal, but may within two weeks after receiving the recommendation, submit any objections to the proceedings and/or the experts' statement. Such an objection must be submitted in writing to the secretary of the Appointments Committee. The experts will be made aware of the applicant's objection and may issue an additional statement in response to the objection before the final decision is made by the Appointments Committee [3]. 

Decisions regarding promotions

• The Appointments Committee considers the recommendations of the experts and, where relevant, the applicant's appeal as well as the experts’ response to it, and decides whether a promotion shall be granted or declined. 
• The expert committee's recommendation must unanimously and unequivocally declare the applicant qualified for promotion in order for this to be granted [4]. 

[1] Cf. the Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (7), Section 2-3 (7), Section 2-4 (4), Section 2-5 (2) 

[2] The Norwegian Public Administration Act, Section 6 and Section 8 

[3] The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (12) and (13), Section 2-3 (11), Section 2-4 (6) and (7), Section 2-5 (3) 

[4] The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (13), Section 2-3 (11), Section 2-4 (7), Section 2-5 (4) 

Procedure for applying for promotion 

Who can apply for a qualifications assessment in relation to promotion?  

• You can apply for an expertise assessment for promotion to professor, senior lecturer, assistant professor and associate professor, provided that you are employed in a permanent or fixed-term position at Kristiania University College at a level of at least 50% [1]. 
• You can apply for a qualifications assessment for promotion to college lecturer [2] provided you are employed at a level of at least 50% at Kristiania University College. 

Who cannot apply for promotion? 

• An assistant professor employed for a fixed term on tenure conditions cannot apply for promotion [3]. 
• It is also not possible to seek promotion to professor or senior lecturer in connection with applying for a teaching and research position that is advertised at a lower position than professor/senior lecturer [4]. 

Two career paths 

Professor path 

• Professor 
• Assistant professor/senior librarian 
• University college lecturer 
• University college teacher 

Senior lecturer path 

• Associate professor 
• Senior lecturer/senior librarian 
• University college lecturer 
• University college teacher 

Promotion is granted one position level at a time. 

It is not possible to seek transition between career paths 

If you have been granted promotion to associate professor or assistant professor, you cannot apply for a transition from the career path you started on to the opposite career path. 

Academic anchoring of applications for promotion 

Promotion can only be sought within the fields or subjects that are included in the degrees awarded by Kristiania University College and in which the applicant is employed [5]. 

Annual deadline for applications 

Kristiania University College processes applications for promotion once a year. The annual deadline for applications is 31 August. 

Exceptions to the annual deadline for applications 

In the following cases, applications for promotion will be processed continuously throughout the year: 

Passed defence of thesis 

If you have passed your thesis defence in an accredited Norwegian or Nordic PhD programme, or have taken a PhD at a corresponding level, then the Appointments Committee may grant promotion administratively without an expert assessment being conducted first. Documentation of a passed thesis defence and basic pedagogical qualifications must be presented to the appointments committee at Kristiania University College. 

Promotion to University College Lecturer who satisfies Sections 1-1 and 1-6 

If you apply for promotion to University College Lecturer and can fulfil Sections 1-1 and 1-6 of the Promotions Regulations, then the Appointments Committee may grant promotion administratively without an expert assessment being conducted first [6]. Documentation that Sections 1-1 and 1-6 of the regulations are fulfilled must be presented to the Appointments Committee at Kristiania University College. If the Appointments Committee considers that an expert committee must be appointed, however, the applicant must apply in the usual manner according to the annual deadline for applications. 

External declaration of expertise 

If you have received a declaration of expertise in your favour from an accredited external Norwegian institution, this declaration may be presented to the Appointments Committee, which may grant promotion on this basis. However, the Appointments Committee is free to decide in each case whether the external declaration of expertise is adequate in order to grant promotion, or whether it will appoint an expert committee itself [7]. If the Appointments Committee considers that an expert committee must be appointed, then the applicant must adhere to the annual deadline for applications. 

Expertise assessment in connection with appointment 

If you are a job applicant for a position corresponding to at least 50% FTE or a fixed-term teaching and research position at Kristiania University College, then you can have your qualifications assessed outside the annual deadline for applications for promotion. 

Submission of applications 

• Applicants for expertise promotion should submit their application to their own department. 
• The applicant bears full responsibility for ensuring that the submitted application is complete. Although the expert committee may request supplementary documentation if the application is deficient, it is not obliged to do so.  

The applicant must not contact the expert committee directly  

The applicant must not directly contact the expert committee, either before or after the application has been submitted. 

Processing time 

• Three months for promotion applications submitted by the annual deadline for applications on 31 August. 
• Two months if the qualifications assessment takes place outside the annual deadline for applications. 

Objection to an expert committee's recommendation 

• As soon as the expert committee's recommendation is available, the applicant shall be sent a copy. 
• The applicant has no right of appeal, but may submit an objection against the proceedings and/or the expert's statement within two weeks after receiving the recommendation. Such an objection must be submitted in writing to the secretary of the Appointments Committee. 
• The experts will be made aware of the applicant's objection and may issue an additional statement in response to the objection before the final decision is made by the Appointments Committee [8]. 

When do salary adjustments take effect 

Applications by the annual deadline for applications 

When an application is submitted by the annual deadline for applications on 31 August, a granted promotion will result in a salary adjustment retroactively to 1 September. 

Applications according to a passed thesis defence 

When promotion is granted based on a passed thesis defence, the promotion will result in a salary adjustment retroactively to the first day of the month after the doctoral degree exam was passed. Documentation of a passed thesis defence must be presented to the Appointments Committee before a salary adjustment can take effect. 

Applications outside the annual deadline for applications 

When a promotion is granted outside the annual deadline for applications, the promotion will result in a salary adjustment retroactively to the first day of the month after the application was submitted. 

Applications for qualifications assessment in connection with an appointment 

When expertise promotion is granted in connection with an appointment, the salary will be adjusted in the contract that is entered into. 

A granted promotion has no consequences for the position-holder’s duties 

Promotion is personal and, according to Section 2-4 (1), Section 2-3 (1) and Section 2-2 (1), it has no consequences for the position-holder's duties. 

Waiting time between applications for promotion 

• A prerequisite for obtaining a promotion is that the application is substantiated by a solid basis of ongoing academic activity. This takes time to build up, and therefore it normally takes at least 2-5 years between each promotion on the career ladder. 
• Both the applicant and Kristiania University College have a strong interest in the promotion being granted. Otherwise, the applicant receives two years of quarantine before a new application can be submitted. Therefore, do not submit incomplete applications. It is better to spend an extra year compiling an indisputable basis for promotion than receiving a rejection and two years of quarantine. 
• If an application for promotion to professor or senior lecturer is rejected, then a minimum of two years must pass from the date on which Kristiania University College received the application until the applicant can submit a new application [9]. The waiting time also applies if the application is withdrawn after it has been formally submitted. 
• If an application for promotion to associate professor, assistant professor or university college lecturer is rejected, then the two years’ waiting time will run from the date on which the applicant received the rejection [10]. 

[1]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (1), Section 2-3 (1) and Section 2-4 (1) 

[2]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-5 (1) 

[3]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (1) and the Regulations on appointments on tenure conditions, Section 2 

[4]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (3), Section 2-3 (3) 

[5]          The Promotions Regulations, Sections 2-2 (2), 2-3 (2) and 2-4 (2) 

[6]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-5 (4) 

[7]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-1 

[8]          The Promotions Regulations, Sections 2-2 (12) and (13), Section 2-3 (11), Section 2-4 (6) and (7), Section 2-5 (3)  

[9]          The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-2 (6), Section 2-3 (6) 

[10]        The Promotions Regulations, Section 2-4 (9), Section 2-5 (6) 

Regulations 

The expert committee shall base its assessment of qualifications on: 

Regulations on appointments and promotion in teaching and research positions. 

• Guidelines prepared by the faculty councils under Universities Norway (hereinafter UHR). UHR has not prepared guidelines for promotion to all position levels or all disciplines, but where there is a guide provided by UHR, the expert committee shall use this as a basis for its assessment.  

Requirements for the expert committee's written recommendation 

• The expert committee shall deliver a unified, written recommendation. In the event that one or more of the committee members have, for particular reasons, provided an individual statement to the committee, the committee shall then fully submit a combined written recommendation to the appointments committee. The chair of the committee is responsible for ensuring that this happens. 
• Kristiania University College’s template for the expert committee’s declaration of expertise shall be used as a basis for this written recommendation. The expert committee receives this template from the secretary of the Appointments Committee. 

The recommendation shall: 

• Clarify the basis for the assessment, i.e. whether the applicant is assessed on an artistic or academic basis, what subject area, paragraphs and sections are cited and, where relevant, which guidelines from UHR has been used. 
• The recommendation shall also indicate which documentation basis has been submitted and assessed. 
• Evaluate the applicant's formal qualifications, including education and relevant professional practice. 
• Evaluate the documentation basis for professional qualifications that has been submitted for assessment. The different parts of the documentation shall be referred to separately or collectively. 
• Evaluate the documentation basis for the applicant's practical pedagogical qualifications. 
• Evaluate any sample lecture or other artistic example. 
• Evaluate professional experience and other qualifying activities. 
• Describe the committee's assessment of the applicant's overall qualifications on the basis of documentation and any tests. If the qualifications are assessed in connection with appointment, the applicant's combined qualifications shall also be viewed in relation to the specific qualification requirements specified in the job description. 
• State whether the recommendation is unanimous or whether there is disagreement on any issue and explain any disagreements.  

Clarification of the regulations 

In board matter no. 23.6 Regulations for promotion of 3 September 2018, the board of directors of Kristiania University College adopted the following clarifications to the promotions regulations, Chapter 2, Section 2-2(5) The assessment shall be based on documented academic or artistic qualifications: 

For academic professor qualifications: 

• Chapter 1, Section 1-2(1) of the regulations require an "Academic level in accordance with established international or national standards". Kristiania University College implements this by "academic production" including both works that have already been published and works that have been accepted for publication where there is written confirmation of this. 
• For appointment to an advertised position as professor, strong emphasis is placed on the last 6 years of academic production. 
• The following requirements are set out in Section 1-2 (3) of the regulations: In addition to the requirements concerning basic qualifications for teaching and supervision at university and university college level applicable to positions as assistant professors, the following must be documented: 
  • Quality development in own teaching and supervision over time 
  • Broad supervision experience, preferably at master’s/PhD level 
  • Participation in the development of educational quality in academic communities. 
• If indicated by special reasons, applicants as professors that do not meet the requirements concerning basic university pedagogical qualifications (cf. Section 1-4(3) of the regulations) may be given a two-year deadline from the time of appointment to meet these requirements. This primarily applies to foreign applicants and applicants for combined adjunct professor positions with principal employment with another business. Nevertheless, the main rule for appointments as a professor is that the requirement must be met at the time of appointment. 
• Experience as a supervisor at PhD level is not a requirement for being granted promotion to professor, as the University College does not have its own doctoral programme [1]. Qualifications corresponding to PhD supervision can be documented in other ways, e.g. through collegial supervision, mentoring, peer review, management of research projects, etc. 

For artistic professor qualifications: 

• Chapter 1, Section 1-2(2) of the regulations require "Extensive artistic activity at the highest level according to international standards and relevant breadth and specialisation in the subject or discipline at the highest level". For artistic professor qualifications, Kristiania University College requires artistic activities at the highest level according to international standards, documented through publicly available artistic productions in recognised channels of dissemination. In addition, a documented deep understanding of one’s own field of expertise is required, as well as broad insight into related areas. 
• For appointment to an advertised position as professor, strong emphasis is placed on the last 6 years of production. 
• Emphasis shall also be placed on the ability to initiate and lead projects. This can be documented by the supervision of students at all levels, the initiation and management of creative and artistic projects, academic-administrative experience, etc. There is no requirement for the supervision of PhD fellows in artistic development work when assessing for promotion to professor. 
• The following requirements are set out in Section 1-2 (3) of the regulations: In addition to the requirements concerning basic qualifications for teaching and supervision at university and university college level applicable to positions as assistant professors, the following must be documented: 
  • Quality development in own teaching and supervision over time 
  • Broad supervision experience, preferably at master’s/PhD level 
  • Participation in the development of educational quality in academic communities. 
• If indicated by special reasons, applicants for positions as a professor that do not meet the requirements concerning basic university pedagogical qualifications (cf. Section 1-4(3) of the regulations) may be given a two-year deadline from the time of appointment to meet these requirements. This primarily applies to foreign applicants and applicants for combined adjunct professor positions with principal employment with another business. Nevertheless, the main rule for appointments as a professor is that the requirement must be met at the time of appointment. 

[1] Here we are aligned with OsloMet, where promotion to professor on an artistic basis can be granted without the candidate having supervision experience at doctoral level. OsloMet’s guide to the Promotions Regulations: There is no requirement for the supervision of PhD fellows in artistic development work when assessing for promotion to professor.  

Laws and regulations 

• Act relating to universities and university colleges (The Norwegian Universities and University Colleges Act) 
• The Regulations on appointments and promotion in teaching and research positions (the Promotions Regulations) 
• Regulations on amending the regulations concerning appointments and promotions in teaching and research positions
• Regulations on appointments on tenure conditions
• The Act relating to the administration of public matters (The Norwegian Public Administration Act) 
• "Regulations on appointments and promotion in teaching and research positions of 9 February 2006 No. 129"(Letter from the Ministry of Education to universities and colleges, civil service organisations and UHR with case number 14/3868, dated 31/08/2015) 

UHR guides 

• UHR “Guide to applying for promotion to Associate Professor” 
• The national faculty meeting for social science subjects’ "Guidelines for promotion to Professor " 
• The national faculty meeting for the arts’ “Guide to assessing applicants for professorships and promotion to Professor ” 
• National professional council for education and research in medicine “Information for applicants and assessment committees for appointments to positions as professor/assistant professor and promotion to professor based on qualifications" 
• The national faculty meeting for science subjects’ "Coordination of the procedures for promotion to Professor ”, adopted by the Joint meeting of the National Faculty of Sciences (NFmR) and the National Council for Technical Education (NRT). 
• The UHR’s “Guide to applying for and assessing promotions to Senior Lecturer” UHR ”Guide for applicants wishing to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer” 

Guidelines at other universities and university colleges 

• OsloMet’s “Guide to Regulations on appointments and promotion in teaching and research positions (FOR 2006-02-09 No. 129)” 
• Oslo National Academy of the Arts’ “Guide for applicants to academic positions” 
• The University of Tromsø’s “Supplementary provisions for appointment and promotion to teaching and research positions at the University of Tromsø” 
• The Norwegian Academy of Music’s ”Guidelines for assessing qualifications for appointment or promotion to teaching and research positions at the Norwegian Academy of Music"  

Board matters 

• Kristiania University College board matter no. 145 of 1 June 2018; Tentative mandate for the Appointments Committee for teaching and research positions. 
• Kristiania University College board matter no 23.6 Regulations for promotion of 3 September 2018; Clarification of the regulations for assessing professor qualifications.